Automated content submission to a share site

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for remotely submitting content to a website without navigating to the website are provided. The website is a content-sharing  website that accepts public content submissions and makes the content available to multiple users. Initially, a client application may download remote-content-submission instructions from the website. Subsequently, the client application may follow the instructions to format a remote content submission and communicate it to the website.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority from, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/473,487, filed May 28, 2009, entitled“AUTOMATED CONTENT SUBMISSION TO A SHARE SITE” which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Currently, content-sharing websites allow a user to submit content thatmay be shared with others through the content-sharing website. Thecontent-sharing websites may rank the received contents based on thenumber of times the identical content is submitted to the website or byallowing users of the website to rank or rate the content. Some sitesplace content with the highest rankings on the front page for others toview. This allows other users to readily find content that is deemedinteresting by the largest number of users. The content may include blogentries, news articles, pictures, videos, songs, status updates, userprofiles, celebrity profiles, and other digital content. The content mayactually be hosted by a separate website with only links to the contentpresented on the content-sharing website. Some content-providers, suchas blogs and news magazines, allow a user to automatically submitcontent to one or more of a plurality of content-sharing websites fromthe content-provider's web site.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the detaileddescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used in isolation as an aid in determining the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

Embodiments of the present invention allow a user of a clientapplication, such as a web browser, to remotely submit content to one ormore content-sharing websites. A content-sharing website is a websitethat receives content submissions from users and displays the submittedcontent according to popularity, or other criteria. The users may alsobe able to submit content ratings and commentary on the content to thecontent-sharing website. Embodiments of the present invention allow auser to navigate to a content-provider's website and submit content(e.g., a blog entry, an article, a video) to a designatedcontent-sharing website without leaving the content-provider's website.Embodiments of the present invention allow the user to select one ormore content-sharing websites to which the client application may submitcontent. The client application may need to access remote-submissioninstructions for a content-sharing website before the client applicationis able to remotely submit content to the content-sharing website.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below withreference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing environment suitablefor implementing embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an illustrative operating environmentsuitable for implementing embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing communications occurring during a remotecontent submission, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram that shows a user interface generated by a clientapplication that may be used to remotely submit content to the sharesite, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a user interface that has been updated toindicate that a client application has been enabled to remotely submitcontent to a content-sharing website, in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a user interface during remote submission ofcontent to the share site, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a method of remotely submitting contentto a content-sharing website, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a method of remotely submitting contentto a content-sharing website through a client application, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing a method of instructing a client deviceto automatically submit content to a sharing site, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of embodiments of the invention is described withspecificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, thedescription itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent.Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject mattermight also be embodied in other ways, to include different steps orcombinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, inconjunction with other present or future technologies. Moreover,although the terms “step” and/or “block” may be used herein to connotedifferent elements of methods employed, the terms should not beinterpreted as implying any particular order among or between varioussteps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individualsteps is explicitly described.

Embodiments of the present invention allow a user of a clientapplication, such as a web browser, to remotely submit content to one ormore content-sharing websites. A content-sharing website is a websitethat receives content submissions and content ratings from users anddisplays the submitted content according to popularity, or othercriteria. Embodiments of the present invention allow a user to navigateto a content-provider's website and submit content (e.g., a blog entry,an article, a video) to a designated content-sharing website withoutleaving the content-provider's website. Embodiments of the presentinvention allow the user to select one or more content-sharing websitesto which the client application may submit content. The clientapplication may need to access remote-submission instructions for acontent-sharing website before the client application is able toremotely submit content to the content-sharing website.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, one or more computer-readable mediahaving computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performingthe method of remotely submitting content to a content-sharing websiteare provided. The method includes navigating to the content-sharingwebsite, wherein the content-sharing website allows a user to submitcontent that may then be displayed to other users through thecontent-sharing website. The method also includes determining, at aclient device, the content-sharing website has a remotecontent-reception functionality that allows the content-sharing websiteto remotely receive a content submission from an application operatingon the client device. The method further includes displaying, through auser interface displayed on a display device communicatively coupled tothe client device, a graphic indication that the content-sharing websiteis capable of remotely receiving the content submission from aremote-content-submission application on the client device thatautomatically submits content to the content-sharing website uponreceiving a request from the user of the client device to generate thecontent submission. The method also includes receiving, at the clientdevice, a request from the user of the client device to add thecontent-sharing web site to the remote-content-submission application.The method further includes retrieving, from a server hosting thecontent-sharing website, instructions for remotely submitting content tothe content-sharing website. The method further includes, updating, atthe client device, the remote-content-submission application based onthe instructions, thereby enabling the remote-content-submissionapplication to remotely submit content to the content-sharing website.

In another embodiment, a method of remotely submitting content to acontent-sharing website through a client application. The methodincludes, receiving, through the client application operating on acomputing device, a selection of content. The method also includesreceiving, through the client application, a selection of one or morecontent-sharing websites to send the content. The content sharingwebsites display content from other sources that is submitted by users.The method also includes generating, for each of the one or morecontent-sharing websites, a content submission that conforms toinstructions for remote submission to said each of the one or morecontent-sharing websites. The method further includes communicating toeach of the one or more content-sharing websites the content submissionthat conforms to the instructions for remote submission to each of theone or more content-sharing websites.

In yet another embodiment, one or more computer-readable media havingcomputer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing amethod of instructing a client device to automatically submit content toa content-sharing website are provided. The method includes receiving,at a server associated with a website, a request for the website,wherein the request is communicated from a client application operatingon the client device and wherein the website is a content-sharingwebsite. The method further includes communicating, from the server tothe client device, the website. Code that is part of the content-sharingwebsite includes an attribute that identifies the website as within acontent-sharing-website category of websites and a location of aninstruction for how a content submission should be communicated to thewebsite. The instruction may be accessed by the client device uponreceiving an indication that a user of the client device wishes to addthe website to a remote-content-submission capability of the clientapplication. The remote-content-submission capability automaticallygenerates the content submission.

Having briefly described an overview of embodiments of the invention, anexemplary operating environment suitable for use in implementingembodiments of the invention is described below.

Exemplary Operating Environment

Referring to the drawings in general, and initially to FIG. 1 inparticular, an exemplary operating environment for implementingembodiments of the invention is shown and designated generally ascomputing device 100. Computing device 100 is but one example of asuitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the invention.Neither should the computing environment 100 be interpreted as havingany dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination ofcomponents illustrated.

The invention may be described in the general context of computer codeor machine-useable instructions, including computer-executableinstructions such as program components, being executed by a computer orother machine, such as a personal digital assistant or other handhelddevice. Generally, program components including routines, programs,objects, components, data structures, and the like, refer to code thatperforms particular tasks, or implements particular abstract data types.Embodiments of the invention may be practiced in a variety of systemconfigurations, including handheld devices, consumer electronics,general-purpose computers, specialty computing devices, etc. Embodimentsof the invention may also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by remote-processing devices thatare linked through a communications network.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, computing device 100 includes a bus110 that directly or indirectly couples the following devices: memory112, one or more processors 114, one or more presentation components116, input/output (I/O) ports 118, I/O components 120, and anillustrative power supply 122. Bus 110 represents what may be one ormore busses (such as an address bus, data bus, or combination thereof).Although the various blocks of FIG. 1 are shown with lines for the sakeof clarity, in reality, delineating various components is not so clear,and metaphorically, the lines would more accurately be grey and fuzzy.For example, one may consider a presentation component such as a displaydevice to be an I/O component 120 t. Also, processors have memory. Theinventors hereof recognize that such is the nature of the art, andreiterate that the diagram of FIG. 1 is merely illustrative of anexemplary computing device that can be used in connection with one ormore embodiments of the invention. Distinction is not made between suchcategories as “workstation,” “server,” “laptop,” “handheld device,”etc., as all are contemplated within the scope of FIG. 1 and referenceto “computer” or “computing device.”

Computing device 100 typically includes a variety of computer-storagemedia. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable mediamay comprise Random Access Memory (RAM); Read Only Memory (ROM);Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM); flashmemory or other memory technologies; Compact Disk Read-Only Memory(CDROM), digital versatile disks (DVDs) or other optical or holographicmedia; magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices; or any other medium that can be used to encodedesired information and be accessed by computing device 100.

Memory 112 includes computer-storage media in the form of volatileand/or nonvolatile memory. The memory 112 may be removable,non-removable, or a combination thereof. Exemplary memory includessolid-state memory, hard drives, optical-disc drives, etc. Computingdevice 100 includes one or more processors 114 that read data fromvarious entities such as bus 110, memory 112 or I/O components 120.Presentation component(s) 116 present data indications to a user orother device. Exemplary presentation components 116 include a displaydevice, speaker, printing component, vibrating component, etc. I/O ports118 allow computing device 100 to be logically coupled to other devicesincluding I/O components 120, some of which may be built in.Illustrative I/O components 120 include a microphone, joystick, gamepad, satellite dish, scanner, printer, wireless device, etc.

Turning now to FIG. 2, an illustrative operating environment 200 thatcontains a few of the components that may be used within embodiments ofthe present invention. The components shown in FIG. 2 are just some ofthe components that embodiments of the invention may interact withduring operation. The components shown in FIG. 2 are described in brief,and with an emphasis on function for the sake of simplicity. Thecomponents within FIG. 2 are communicatively coupled to each other in amanner appropriate for carrying out their respective functions withinthe illustrative operating environment 200. Embodiments of the presentinvention are not limited by the communication protocols or formats usedto facilitate communication between components; those mentioned are forthe sake of enablement and not meant to be limiting.

Illustrative operating environment 200 includes a client device 202, anetwork 204, a content-sharing server 206, and a content server 208.Illustrative operating environment 200 is merely an example of onesuitable environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as tothe scope of use or functionality of the present invention. Neithershould illustrative operating environment 200 be interpreted as havingany dependency or requirement related to any single component orcombination of components illustrated therein. For example, the presentinvention could be practiced in an environment that includes a wirelessnetwork (not shown) that connects one or more devices, such as PDA's.

Client device 202 may be similar to the computing device 100 describedwith reference to FIG. 1. The client device 202 may run one or moreapplications that may access content over the Internet. The clientdevice 202 may include a display device that is suitable for viewingmedia content such as movies, videos, video calls, pictures, websites,or television shows. An LCD screen is one example of a display devicethat might work with the client device 202.

The client device 202 may take on any of a variety of forms. By way ofexample, the client device 202 may be a mobile telephone, smart phone,pager, computing device, personal digital assistant (“PDA”) or anycombination of these or other devices. The client device 202 has theability to present one or more forms of media content. Examples of mediacontent that could be displayed include, TV shows, movies, videos, MP3files, and radio programs. This list is not exhaustive. The media may bepresented as it is received from the network 204 or from memory withinthe client device 202. The client device 202 may also be capable ofreceiving one or more forms of communication. Examples of communicationsthat may be received include phone calls, video calls, text messages,multimedia messages, emails, calendar updates, and task reminders.

The network 204 is a wide area network (“WAN”) and may include one ormore mobile networks, one or more packet based networks, including theInternet, and the public switched telephone network (“PSTN”). Thevarious components within the network 204 may be owned and/or operatedby multiple entities, commercial or otherwise. The network 204 isconfigured to transmit a variety of communication formats includingphone calls, emails, text messaging, faxes, instant messaging, pages,voice mails, photographs, audio files, movies, TV shows, calendarreminders, task reminders and other files containing communicativecontent.

The content-sharing server 206 is a computing device that may be similarto the computing device 100. The content-sharing server 206 may includea CPU, short-term memory, long-term memory, and one or more networkinterfaces. The network interface is used to connect to a LAN, WAN(including the Internet), or other variety of communications network.The network interface to the WAN or LAN could be wired, wireless, orboth. In one embodiment, the content server 208 facilitates transmissionof media content (e.g. websites, movies, videos, MP3's, etc.) to theclient device 202. The content-sharing server 206 transmits the mediacontent over the network 204. The content-sharing server 206 also hostsa particular kind of website that receives content (or links to content)and presents the content for groups of people to access. The content maybe given a popularity rating based on the number of times the content issubmitted and/or rated by other users. The content may be submitted byentering information in a user interface provided by the content-sharingserver 206. Embodiments of the present invention allow thecontent-sharing server 206 to receive content remotely from anapplication operating on the client device 202. Embodiments of thepresent invention also allow the content-sharing server 206 to provideinstruction for remote submission to the client application. Throughoutthis application actions performed by an application on thecontent-sharing server 206 may be described as being performed by thecontent-sharing server 206 without specifying the application thatperformed the action. The content-sharing server 206 may provide anaccess and authentication function in response to requests to accesscontent or submit new content.

The content server 208 is a computing device that may be similar to thecomputing device 100. The content server 208 may include a CPU,short-term memory, long-term memory, and one or more network interfaces.The network interface is used to connect to a LAN, WAN (including theInternet), or other variety of communications network. The networkinterface to the WAN or LAN could be wired, wireless, or both. In oneembodiment, the content server 208 facilitates transmission of mediacontent (e.g. websites, movies, videos, MP3's, etc.) to the clientdevice 202. The content server 208 transmits the media content over thenetwork 204. The content server 208 may also host websites that aretransmitted to a requesting computing device. The content server 208 mayprovide an access and authentication function in response to requests toaccess content on the content server 208.

Turning now to FIG. 3, communications occurring during a remote contentsubmission are shown, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The communications occur between a client device 302, ashare-site server 306 and a content server 308. The client device 302may be similar to the client device 202 described previously withreference to FIG. 2. The share-site server 306 may be similar to thecontent-sharing server 206 described previously with reference to FIG.2. The share-site server hosts a content-sharing website that isreferred to as the share site or sharesite.com throughout thisdescription. The share site is meant to be a specific example of acategory of websites referred to as content-sharing websites. Examplesof content-sharing websites include Digg, StumbleUpon, and Reddit. Thecontent server 308 hosts a website that provides content to users. Thecontent server 308 may be similar to the content sever 208 describedpreviously with reference to FIG. 2.

Initially the user provides an instruction (not shown) to a clientapplication to navigate to the share site. For example, the user maytype a URL of the share site into the client applications navigationbar. Upon receiving an instruction to navigate to the share site hostedby the share-site server 306, the client device 302 sends a request 310for the share site to the share-site server 306. In one embodiment, therequest 310 is an HTTP Get request. Embodiments of the present inventionare not limited to using the HTTP communication protocol. Other forms ofcommunication may be utilized to communicate between components. Inresponse to receiving the request 310, the share-site server 306communicates a response 312 to the client device 302. The response 312includes the content of the share-site. The response 312 may be in theform of an HTTP 200 OK response. The response 312 includes an indicationthat the share site hosted by the share site sever 306 is selfidentified as a content-sharing website. The self identification as acontent-sharing website may be made by an attribute value communicatedas part of the share site's web page.

Upon receiving the response 312, the application running on the clientdevice 302, which had initially requested the share site, determinesthat the share site is a content-sharing website withremote-content-reception capabilities. In response to determining thatthe share site has remote-content-reception capabilities, the clientapplication displays 314 an indication that the user may enable theclient application to remotely submit content to the share site. Anexample of such an indication is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a userinterface 400 generated by a client application that may be used toremotely submit content to the share site, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. The user interface 400 is similarto a user interface generated by a web browser. The user interface 400includes a navigation bar 410 showing the source of the content 415displayed on the user interface 400. In this case an examplecontent-sharing website “sharesite.com” is shown. The User interface 400also includes a remote sharing interface 420 that allows a user toselect one or more share sites to which content should be remotelysubmitted. The share sites that are currently enabled may be accessed bypushing input button 422. In FIG. 4, input button 422 is flashing asindicated by lines 423. The flashing indicates that the “sharesite.com”may be added as enabled for remote content submission. Other types ofindications may be provided to the user such as changing the color orhighlighting the remote content submission interface. The remote sharinginterface 420 is part of the client application not the sharesite.comthat is being displayed in the user interface 400. The content 415 maybe series of links to content submitted by users of sharesite.com.

Returning now to FIG. 3, the user of client device 302 requests 316 thatthe share site be added to the remote-content-submission functionalityof the client application. Once, the remote-content-submissionfunctionality of the client application is enabled for the share site,the client application is able to submit content to the share site fromother sources without navigating to the share site. Submitting contentto a content-sharing website, like the share site, without navigating tothe site is referred to as a remote-content submission. The request forinstructions 320 is sent from the client device 302 to the share-siteserver 306. The request for instructions 320 may be addressed to adestination designated in metadata that is part of the original websitedownloaded in response 312. Upon receiving the request for instructions320, the share-site server 306 communicates the remote submissioninstruction 322 to the client device 302. The remote submissioninstruction 322 may include the URL of the share site to which contentsubmissions are addressed, an attribute for a URL of the content, anattribute for a description of the content, instructions to authenticatethe user submitting the content, as well as other instructions necessaryto receive the remote content submission or customize the display of thecontent. Upon receiving the remote submission instruction 322, theclient application on the client device 302 may update 324 the userinterface to indicate that remote content submission has been enabledfor client application to send content to the share site.

FIG. 5 shows a user interface 400 that has been updated to indicate thata client application has been enabled to remotely submit content to acontent-sharing website, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The user interface 400 in FIG. 5 is identical to the userinterface described previously with reference to FIG. 4 with a singleexception that the input button 422 is no longer flashing. As describedpreviously, the flashing indicates that client application may beenabled to remotely share content with the share site. The lack offlashing indicates that the share site has already been added. It shouldalso be noted that the input button may not flash when the website isnot identified as a share site in the first place. Thus, in oneembodiment, the indication 423 is only provided when a share site isidentified as a share site that is not already enabled for remotecontent submission.

Returning now to FIG. 3, the communications in FIG. 3 illustrate twoseparate series of communications that may occur as part of embodimentsof the present invention. The first series of communications startingwith request 310 and ending with update 324 enable a client applicationto remotely submit content to the share site. During the first seriesthe client application requests and receives instructions to remotelysubmit content to the share site. During the second series ofcommunications the client application follows the instructions toremotely submit content to the share site. There may be a significanttime gap between the first series of communications and the secondseries of communications.

The second series of communications start when the client applicationrequests 326 a content website hosted by the content server 308. Inresponse to the request 326, the website is sent to the client device302 in response 328. The client application may then render and displaythe website to the user. The user instructs 329 the client applicationto generate a content submission to the share site. FIG. 6 shows a userinterface during remote submission of content to the share site, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Upon selectionof the input button 422, multiple content-sharing websites that areenabled for remote content submission are shown in a dropdown menu. Thedropdown menu includes share site alp 623, share site bar 624, and sharesite foo 625. These three share sites may have been selected forenablement previously by the user through the process describedpreviously with reference to the first series of communications in FIG.3. In the alternative, one or more of the share sites may have beenpre-enabled by a supplier of the client application that generates userinterface 400. The user selects one or more of the content-sharingwebsites. In one embodiment, the content submission is based on the URLin the navigation bar 410 when the content-sharing site is selected.

Continuing now with FIG. 3, the user instruction 329 may include aselection of content and a designation of one or more content-sharingwebsites to which the content should be sent. In the present embodiment,the selection of a single content-sharing website is shown for the sakeof simplicity. The content submission may designate a portion of contentfrom the website, such as an article or blog entry, or be the entirewebsite. The content submission 330 is generated and transmitted to theshare-site server 306. The content submission 330 will conform to theremote submission instructions 322 previously received from the sharesite. In one embodiment, sending the content submission 330 may concludethe content submission process. In other embodiments, a confirmation orauthentication request may be sent back to the client device 302 beforethe content submission is accepted by the share-site server 306. Thesecommunications are illustrated in FIG. 3 but are not required in allembodiments of the present invention.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a submission of content to the sharesite requires authentication. Thus, in response to the contentsubmission 330 the share-site server 306 generates an authenticationrequest 332. The authentication request 332 may conform to basic HTTPauthentication. In response to the authentication request 332, theclient application may display an interface into which the user submitsa password and perhaps a user name. In another embodiment, the clientdevice retrieves 334 authentication information for the user from astorage location. Regardless of how the authentication information isretrieved 334, an authentication response 336 is generated andtransmitted to the share-site server 306. Upon receipt of theauthentication response 336, the share-site server 306 authenticates 337the content submission 330.

In a further alternate embodiment of the present invention, theshare-site server 306 seeks confirmation that the user intends to submitthe content. The confirmation may be in addition to or instead of theauthentication process. To initiate the confirmation, the share-siteserver 306 sends a confirmation request 338 to the client device 302.Upon receiving the confirmation request 338, the client device 302displays a confirmation interface to the user. The confirmationinterface may ask the user to confirm that they would like to submit thecontent that is part of the content submission 330. In one embodiment,the submitted content is shown as part of the confirmation interface.This may allow the user to correct a mistake, such as inadvertentlysending personal information that the user did not wish to send. Uponreceiving a user confirmation 339, a confirmation message 340 is sent tothe share-site server 306. Upon receipt of the confirmation message 340,the share-site server 306 stores 341 the content. The content may bedisplayed as part of the content-sharing website. The share-site server306 may then send a response 342 to the client device 302 indicatingthat a confirmation has been received. The response 342 may also servethe purpose of terminating the communication session.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a method 700 of remotely submitting content to acontent-sharing website is provided, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. As described previously, the content-sharingwebsite receives content submissions from users and displays thesubmitted content on the website. The submitted content may be ranked bypopularity as determined by the number of times the content is submittedby multiple users or by some other method. Examples of content-sharingwebsites include Digg.com, StumbleUpon.com, Del.icio.us.com,NewsVine.com, Full.com, Slashdot.com, MrWong.com, Reddit.com,Ma.gnolia.com, and many others. At step 710, a client device is directedto navigate to the content-sharing website. Navigating to thecontent-sharing website may be accomplished by typing the URL associatedwith the content-sharing website into the navigation pane of a webbrowser. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to usewith a web browser. Other client applications that interact with mediasuch as videos, songs, and pictures may be used in association withembodiments of the present invention. Suitable client applicationsinclude media players and graphics programs, in addition to webbrowsers. Upon navigating to the content-sharing website, thecontent-sharing website will be displayed in part or in full by theclient application. In embodiments of the present invention, the clientapplication may be operating on a client device, such as client device202, that is communicatively coupled to a display device, such as acomputer monitor. The content-sharing website may be hosted by a webserver, such as content-sharing server 206, that is communicativelycoupled to the client device through a network, such as the Internet.

At step 720, the client device determines that the content-sharingwebsite has a remote content-reception functionality that allows thecontent-sharing website to remotely receive a content submission from anapplication operating on the client device. This determination may bemade by identifying an attribute value or other metadata that is part ofthe content-sharing website. The data that identifies thecontent-sharing website as having remote content-reception functionalitymay be part of the website' s code. As described previously, a remotecontent-reception functionality allows the content-sharing website toreceive content from a client application that has not navigated to thecontent-sharing website.

At step 730, a graphic indication that the content-sharing website iscapable of remotely receiving the content submission from aremote-content-submission application is displayed through the graphicaluser interface on a display device. In one embodiment, the indication isdisplayed as part of the user interface that is displaying thecontent-sharing website. For example, the indication can be part of atoolbar or other interface component on a browser that is displaying thewebsite. The indication communicates to the user that thecontent-sharing website may be added to the group of content-sharingwebsites to which a content submission may be remotely sent by theclient application. The remote-content-submission application on theclient device may be a plug-in to a client application. For example, theremote-content-submission application may be part of a toolbar or acomponent of the application. However, embodiments of the presentinvention are not limited to a remote-content-submission applicationthat is integrated with a separate program. Theremote-content-submission application could be a stand-alone programthat is executed apart from the client application that is interactingdirectly with the content-sharing website.

At step 740, a request is received from the user of the client device toadd the content-sharing website to the remote-content-submissionapplication. As described previously, adding the content-sharing websiteto the remote-content-submission application allows theremote-content-submission application to remotely submit content to thecontent-sharing website. Upon receiving the request from the user, theclient application may send a request to the content-sharing website forinstructions. At step 750, instructions are retrieved from a serverhosting the content-sharing website. The instructions are for remotelysubmitting content to the specific content-sharing website. In oneembodiment, the instructions are retrieved by generating an HTTP Getrequest and are received in an HTTP OK response. In one embodiment, theinstructions are retrieved by navigating to a directory indicated in theinitial download of the website. The instructions may be in the form ofan XML code. The instructions will designate a URL to which a contentsubmission should be sent. Instructions may also specify a template forsubmitting the URL of the content and a description of the content. Inaddition, a template for submitting authentication information may alsobe provided. For example, the instructions may instruct the clientapplication to pass a cookie with user identification information aspart of the content submission. Other authentication methods have beendescribed previously with reference to FIG. 3.

At step 760, the remote-content-submission application is updated basedon the instructions. Once updated, the remote-content-submissionapplication is able to remotely submit content to the content-sharingwebsite. Content may be submitted upon receiving a request to submitcontent from the user. For example, the user could instruct the clientapplication to navigate to a website displaying content. The user couldthen select content and one or more share sites to which the contentshould be sent. Upon receiving a selection of content and share sites,the client application, in association with theremote-content-submission application, generates content submissionsthat are specific to the instructions provided by each of the pluralityof share sites. Once generated, the content submissions are transmittedto the share sites, which then take steps to add the content to theirwebsites.

Turning now to FIG. 8, a method 800 of remotely submitting content to acontent-sharing website through a client application is provided, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At step 810, aselection of content is received through a client application operatingon a computing device. The computing device may be similar to clientdevice 202 described previously with reference to FIG. 2. The contentmay be a website, a portion of a website, a video, a song, a picture, orother content. The user may select the content by highlighting thecontent and pushing a selection button. In another embodiment, the usermay select an entire website by navigating to the website and pushing aselection button.

At step 820, a selection of one or more content-sharing websites isreceived. The selection designates the one or more content-sharingwebsites to which a content submission should be sent. Thecontent-sharing websites may have been made available for selection bydownloading remote submission instructions from the website, aspreviously described. In another embodiment, the client application mayhave preprogrammed submission options. The user may select the one ormore content-sharing websites by activating a dropdown menu or otherinterface showing the selection of content-sharing websites. A user mayselect one, two or more out of a plurality of available content-sharingwebsites. In another embodiment, the user designates a defaultcontent-sharing website or multiple default content-sharing websitesthat are automatically invoked when content is selected for submission.

At step 830, a content submission that conforms to instructions forremote submission to each of the one or more content-sharing websites isgenerated. An individual content-submission package is generated foreach of the one or more content-sharing websites. Each content-sharingwebsite may follow a different submission format and is likely to have adifferent URL to which the content submission is communicated.

At step 840, the content submission package is communicated to each ofthe one or more content-sharing websites that were initially selected.As described previously, each content submission conforms to theinstructions for remote submission to each of the one or morecontent-sharing websites. The content submission may be communicatedover the Internet as part of an HTTP request or by following anothercommunication method. In one embodiment, the websites to which thecontent submission is sent may send a confirmation that the contentsubmission is received and accepted. In one embodiment, the responsedirects the client application to a confirmation website communicatingto the user that the content has been submitted. In another embodiment,the content-sharing website directs the user to a confirmation page thatdisplays the submitted content and asks the user to confirm that theywish to submit the content. The user may then send a confirmation to thewebsite. Embodiments of the present invention do not require suchconfirmations. In another embodiment, authentication information isrequired on behalf of the user in order to submit content. Theauthentication information may be sent as part of the initial contentsubmission as a cookie or token containing authentication information.In another embodiment, the user is directed to a website where they mayenter the authentication information before the content is accepted.

Turning now to FIG. 9, a method 900 of instructing a client device toautomatically submit content to a content-sharing site is provided inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method 900may be performed by a content-sharing website that wishes to enableclient applications to remotely submit content to the content-sharingwebsite. At step 910, a request for the website communicated from anapplication operating on a client device is received. The request isreceived at a server associated with the website. The request may be asimple HTTP Get request for the website. At step 920, the website iscommunicated from the server to the client device in response to therequest. The communicated website includes an attribute that identifiesthe website as a sharing site and a location of instructions for how acontent submission should be communicated to the sharing site. Thelocation may be a directory where XML instructions may be retrieved. Theinstruction may be accessed by the client device upon receiving anindication that the user of the client device wishes to add the websiteto a remote-content-submission application that is capable ofautomatically generating the content submission on behalf of the user.

Embodiments of the invention have been described to be illustrativerather than restrictive. It will be understood that certain features andsubcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference toother features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and iswithin the scope of the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of remotely submitting content to a content-sharing website through a client application, the method comprising: receiving, through the client application operating on a computing device, a selection of content; receiving, through the client application, a selection of one or more content-sharing websites to send a content, wherein content-sharing websites display content from other sources that is submitted by users; generating, for each of the one or more content-sharing websites, a content submission that conforms to instructions for remote submission to said each of the one or more content-sharing websites; and communicating to said each of the one or more content-sharing websites the content submission that conforms to the instructions for remote submission of each of the one or more content-sharing websites.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the content includes one or more of a blog entry, a website, a song, and a video.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes displaying a website indicating the content submission has been received at least one of the one or more content-sharing websites.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further includes displaying to a user that selected the content a website that displays the content submission and asks the user to confirm that the content submission should be communicated to the one or more content-sharing websites; and receiving a confirmation that the content submission should be communicated.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions include a template for communicating the content submission to the content-sharing website.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the template includes an attribute for a URL of the content-sharing website, an attribute for a title of the content, and an attribute for a URL for the content.
 7. One or more tangible computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of instructing a client device to automatically submit content to a content-sharing website, the method comprising: receiving, at a server associated with a website, a request for the website, wherein the request is communicated from a client application operating on the client device, and wherein the website is the content-sharing website; and communicating, from the server to the client device, the website, wherein code of the content-sharing website includes an attribute that identifies the website as within a content-sharing-website category of websites and a location of an instruction for how a content submission should be communicated to the website, wherein the instruction is accessed by the client device upon receiving an indication that a user of the client device wishes to add the website to a remote-content-submission capability of the client application, and wherein the remote-content-submission capability automatically generates the content submission.
 8. The media of claim 7, wherein the instruction includes an authentication instruction for authenticating the content submission to the website from the client device.
 9. The media of claim 8, wherein the authentication instruction indicates one or more of that a cookie including user credentials needs to be passed to the server with the content submission, that a basic HTTP authentication process needs to be completed, and that a user identification information should be submitted with the content submission.
 10. The media of claim 9, wherein the method further includes receiving, at the server from the client device, the content submission that conforms to the instruction and the authentication instruction.
 11. The media of claim 10, wherein the content submission includes a uniform resource locator for the content and a written description of the content.
 12. The media of claim 7, wherein the instruction includes a template for communicating the content submission to the website.
 13. The media of claim 12, wherein the template includes an attribute for a URL of the website, an attribute for a title of the content, and an attribute for a URL for the content.
 14. A system for remotely submitting content to a content-sharing website, the system comprising: a client device configured for: determining that the content-sharing website has a remote content-reception functionality that allows the content-sharing website to remotely receive a content submission from an application operating on the client device; and a content-sharing server configured for: communicating to the client device, a website associated with the content-sharing server, wherein code of the website includes an attribute that identifies the website as within a content-sharing-website category of websites and a location of an instruction for how the content submission should be communicated to the website, wherein the instruction may be accessed by the client device upon receiving an indication that a user of the client device wishes to add the website to a remote-content-submission capability of a client application, and wherein the remote-content-submission capability automatically generates the content submission.
 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the client device is further configured for: displaying through a graphic interface displayed on a display device communicatively coupled to the client device, a graphic indication that the content-sharing website is capable of remotely receiving the content submission for a remote-content-submission application on the client device that automatically submits the content to the content-sharing website upon receiving a request from the user of the client device to generate the content submission; receiving, at the client device the request from the user of the client device to add the content-sharing website to the remote-content-submission application; retrieving, from the location, instructions for remotely submitting the content to the content-sharing website.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the client device is further configured for: updating the remote-content-submission application based on the instructions, thereby enabling the remote-content-submission application to remotely submit the content to the content-sharing website.
 17. The system of claim 14 wherein the client device is further configured for: generating for the website of the content-sharing server, the content submission that conforms to instructions for remote submission to the website of the content-sharing server, wherein the instructions are provided to the client application as a portion of code of the website.
 18. The system of claim 14 wherein the content-sharing server is configured for: receiving the content submission that conforms to the instructions for remote submission of the content-sharing server, wherein the content-sharing server is one of a plurality of content sharing servers associated with the remote-content-submission capability of the client application.
 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the content-sharing server is further configured for: providing for display the content submission that conforms to the instructions of the content-sharing server, wherein the content submission is submitted by users.
 20. The system of claim 14 further comprising: a content server configured for: providing a selection of content, wherein the content includes one or more of blog entry, a website, a song, and a video. 